Insulated Covers for Beverage Container

ABSTRACT

An insulated beverage holder comprises a cylindrical body to receive a beverage container and a lid hingedly connected to the body. The body comprises a bottom, cylindrical side wall, and open top. The lid comprises two sections. A first section of the lid is hingedly connected to the body. The second section of the lid is hingedly connected to the first section. The lid is movable between a closed position, partially open position, and fully open position.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/697,361 filed Feb. 1, 2010 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/348,796 filed May 27, 2010, both of which are incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to insulated covers for beverage containers and, more particularly, to insulated holders having a lid for enclosing the beverage container.

One of the most popular beverage containers in use today is the standard 12 oz. aluminum can. Aluminum cans provide a number of benefits, including rapid chilling of beverages because the aluminum is thermally conductive. For the same reason, beverages packaged in aluminum cans tend to warm up quickly when exposed to hot air. Thus, insulated beverage holders are frequently used to slow down heat transfer while the beverage is being consumed. One common type of beverage holder is the foam holder comprising a body with a cylindrical wall, bottom, and open top. The foam rubber on the bottom and sidewall of the can provides insulation and slows down heat transfer. However, the upper end of the can remains exposed to the air so that there is still substantial heat loss. Further, because the standard foam insulator does not have a lid, dust, debris, and insects may find their way into the beverage container.

SUMMARY

An insulated beverage holder comprises a cylindrical body to receive a beverage container and a lid hingedly connected to the body. The body comprises a bottom, cylindrical side wall, and open top. The lid comprises two sections. A first section of the lid is hingedly connected to the body. The second section of the lid is hingedly connected to the first section. The lid is movable between a closed position, partially open position, and fully open position. In the closed position, the lid encloses the open top of the cylindrical body. In the partially open position, the first section of the lid encloses a portion of the open top and the second portion of the lid is folded back against the first portion. In the fully open position, the lid is folded back against the side wall of the cylindrical body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the insulated beverage holder with a lid in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an insulated beverage holder with the lid in a partially open position.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the beverage holder with the lid in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the beverage holder with the lid in a closed position.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the beverage holder with the lid in a partially open position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the beverage holder with the lid in the open position.

FIG. 7 is a section view of the beverage holder.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a beverage holder according to a second embodiment with a detachable lid.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a beverage holder according to a third embodiment with a detachable lid in a closed position.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a beverage holder according to the third embodiment with a detachable lid removed.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a beverage holder according to a fourth embodiment with a jack-knife style lid in a closed position.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a beverage holder according to the fourth embodiment with a jack-knife style lid in an open position.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a beverage holder according to a fifth embodiment with a flip lid in a closed position.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a beverage holder according to the fifth embodiment with a flip lid in an open position.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a beverage holder according to a sixth embodiment with a sliding door lid in a closed position.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a beverage holder according to the sixth embodiment with a sliding door lid in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings a beverage holder according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown therein and indicated generally by the numeral 10. The beverage holder 10 comprises a generally cylindrical body 12 for receiving a standard size beverage container and a lid 30. The body 12 and lid 30 are made from a semi-rigid plastic material, such as polypropylene, polystyrene, ABS foam, and foam rubber.

The body 12 comprises a bottom 14, side wall 16, and open top 18. The bottom 14 includes a raised central portion 20 that contacts the bottom of the beverage container as best seen in FIG. 7. A series of drain openings 22 allow condensation to drain from the beverage holder 10. The cylindrical side wall 16 is dimensioned to fit a standard beverage container, such as a 12 oz. aluminum can. The side wall 16 extends to a height above the top of the container. The diameter of the sidewall is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the can. Ribs 24 extend vertically on the inside surface of the side wall 16. Preferably, the side wall 16 includes three or more ribs 24. The ribs 24 provide a slight interference fit with the beverage container so that the container is held snuggly to prevent rotation of the container in the holder 10. A cut-out 26 is formed along the top edge of the sidewall 16 to provide better access to the beverage container. A lip 28 extends around the top edge of the side wall 16. As will be hereinafter described in greater detail, the lip 28 is engaged by the lid 30 when the lid 30 is closed so that the lid 30 is retained in a closed position.

The lid 30 comprises two sections, referred to herein as the back section 32 and the front section 34. The back and front sections 32, 34 of the lid 30 are joined by a live hinge 36. The function of the live hinge 36 will be described below. The back section 32 of the lid 30 is connected by a second hinge 38 to the side wall 16. The lid 30 has a generally-circular form and includes a lip 40 extending downward from its outer circumference. The lip 40 is broken where it intersects the live hinge 36 to allow folding of the lid 30.

The lid 30 is movable between a closed position, a partially open position, and an open position. In the closed position, shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the back section 32 and front section 34 of the lid 30 lie in a plane and enclose the open top 18 of the body 12. Lip 40 on the lid 30 engages lip 28 on the side wall 16 to secure the lid 30 in the closed position. In the partially open position, shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the front section 34 of the lid 30 folds back against the back section 32. A retaining mechanism 42 retains the lid 30 in the folded condition. In one exemplary embodiment, the retaining mechanism comprises a peg 44 formed on the back section 32, and a hole 46 on the front section 34. The peg 44 and hole 46 are sized to provide an interference fit. When the front section 34 is folded back against the back section 32, the peg 44 inserts into the hole 46 to secure the lid 30 in the folded condition. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of retaining mechanisms could also be used. For example, the retaining mechanism may comprise locking tabs, latches, hooks, magnets, VELCRO-type fasteners, or other similar means to retain the back and front sections 32, 34 of the lid 30 in the folded condition.

In the open position, shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the lid 30 is folded back against the side wall 16. Note that the lid 30 remains in a folded condition. A second retaining mechanism 48 holds the lid 30 in the open position. In one exemplary embodiment, the second retaining mechanism 48 comprises a peg 50 on an inside surface of the front section 34 of the lid 30, and a mating hole 52 in the side wall 16. When the lid 30 is folded back against the side wall 16, the peg 50 inserts into the hole 52 to secure the lid in the open position. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of retaining mechanisms could also be used. For example, the retaining mechanism may comprise locking tabs, latches, hooks, magnets, VELCRO-type fasteners, or other similar means to retain the back and front sections 32, 34 of the lid 30 in the open position.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the beverage holder 10. For convenience, the same reference numbers are used to designate the same or similar components. The beverage holder 10 comprises a generally cylindrical body 12 as previously described for receiving a standard size beverage container and a snap on lid 30. The body 12 comprises a bottom 14, side wall 16, and open top 18. The body includes drainage holes 22 and ribs 24 as previously described and shown in FIG. 7. A cut-out 26 is formed along the top edge of the sidewall 16 to provide access to the beverage container. A lip 28 is formed at the top edge of the side wall 16 for engaging the lid 30. The snap on lid 30 in this embodiment is detachable from the body 12 and includes a hinge 38 as previously described to enable the front section 34 to fold back onto the back section 32. A peg 44 and hole 46 function as a retaining mechanism as previously described.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the beverage holder 10. For convenience, the same reference numbers are used to designate the same or similar components. The beverage holder 10 comprises a generally cylindrical body 12 as previously described for receiving a standard size beverage container and a snap on lid 30. The body 12 comprises a bottom 14, side wall 16, and open top 18. The body includes drainage holes 22 and ribs 24 as previously described and shown in FIG. 7. A cut-out 26 is formed along the top edge of the sidewall 16 to provide access to the beverage container. A lip 28 is formed at the top edge of the side wall 16 for engaging the lid 30.

The lid 30 has a generally-circular form and includes a lip 40 extending downward from its outer circumference. Lip 40 on the lid 30 engages lip 28 on the sidewall 16 when the lid 30 is closed so that the lid 30 is retained in a closed position. The lid 30 snaps on to the cylindrical body 12 to close the beverage holder (FIG. 9) and snaps off to open the beverage holder 10 (FIG. 10).

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a fourth embodiment of the beverage holder 10. For convenience, the same reference numbers are used to designate the same or similar components. The beverage holder 10 comprises a generally cylindrical body 12 as previously described for receiving a standard size beverage container and a snap on lid 30. The body 12 comprises a bottom 14, side wall 16, and open top 18. The body includes drainage holes 22 and ribs as previously described and shown in FIG. 7. A cut-out 26 is formed along the top edge of the sidewall 16 to provide access to the beverage container. A tab 60 is formed at the top edge of the sidewall 16 opposite the cut-out 26 to provide a structure for attaching the lid 30. The lid 30 has a generally-circular form and pivotally attaches to the tab 60. The lid 30 rotates in a horizontal plane between a closed position (FIG. 11) and an open position (FIG. 12).

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a fifth embodiment of the beverage holder 10. For convenience, the same reference numbers are used to designate the same or similar components. The beverage holder 10 comprises a generally cylindrical body 12 as previously described for receiving a standard size beverage container and a snap on lid 30. The body 12 comprises a bottom 14, side wall 16, and open top 18. The body includes drainage holes 22 and ribs 24 as previously described and shown in FIG. 7. A cut-out 26 is formed along the top edge of the sidewall 16 to provide access to the beverage container. A lip 28 is formed at the top edge of the side wall 16 for engaging the lid 30.

A hinge 36 connects the lid 30 to the sidewall 16 so that the lid 30 flips open and closed Lip 40 on the lid 30 engages lip 28 on the sidewall 16 when the lid 30 is closed so that the lid 30 is retained in a closed position (FIG. 13). In the open position, the lid 30 flips back about hinge 36 (FIG. 14).

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a sixth embodiment of the beverage holder 10. For convenience, the same reference numbers are used to designate the same or similar components. The beverage holder 10 comprises a generally cylindrical body 12 as previously described for receiving a standard size beverage container and a snap on lid 30. The body includes drainage holes 22 and ribs 24 as previously described and shown in FIG. 7. A cut-out 26 is formed along the top edge of the sidewall 16 to provide access to the beverage container. A tab 60 is formed at the top edge of the sidewall 16 opposite the cut-out 26 to provide a structure for attaching the lid 30. The lid 30 has a generally-circular form and pivotally attaches to the tab 60. The lid 30 rotates in a horizontal plane between a closed position and an open position as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this embodiment, the lid 30 includes a sliding door 70 that allows the user to drink from the beverage container without opening the lid 30.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional embodiments of the invention can be obtained by combining some of the unique features of the illustrated embodiments. For example, the folding lid 30 with the live hinge 36 and retaining mechanism 42 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7 could be incorporated into any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8-15. Also, the sliding door 70 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 could be incorporated into any of the other embodiments shown.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. An insulated holder for receiving a beverage container, said insulated holder comprising: a body having a bottom, a sidewall, and open top, said sidewall dimensioned to receive a beverage container of predetermined size and shape; a snap-on lid configured to be secured to the open top of the body, said lid including first section and a second section hingedly connected to the first section such that the second section is movable between a closed position in which the first and second sections lie in the plane and cover the open top, and a partially open position in which the first section of the lid partially encloses the open top and the second section of the lid is folded back against the first section.
 2. The insulated holder of claim 1 wherein the sidewall of the body extends to a height above the top of a beverage container received in the body.
 3. The insulated holder of claim 1 further comprising a cut-out disposed along a top edge of the sidewall to provide access to an opening in the beverage container.
 4. The insulated holder of claim 1 further comprising a first retaining mechanism to retain the second section of the lid in a folded position against the first section of the lid when the lid is in the partially open position.
 5. The insulated holder of claim 4 wherein the first retaining mechanism comprises a first peg in one section of the lid and a first hole in the other section of the lid to receive the first peg.
 6. The insulated holder of claim 1 further comprising ribs on an inner surface of the sidewall to frictionally engage the beverage container when the beverage container is inserted into the insulated holder.
 7. An insulated holder for receiving a beverage container, said insulated holder comprising: a body having a bottom sidewall and open top, said sidewall dimensioned to receive a beverage container of predetermined size and shape; a lid configured to be secured to the open top of the body, said lid including a sliding door for providing access to said beverage container.
 8. The insulated holder of claim 7 wherein the lid is pivotally attached to the body.
 9. The insulated holder of claim 7 wherein the lid is connected to the body by a hinge.
 10. The insulated holder of claim 7 further comprising a cut-out form in the sidewall of the body adjacent the open top.
 11. The insulated holder of claim 10 wherein the sliding door in the lid is disposed adjacent the cut-out when the lid is attached to open top. 